To No-one In Particular Who Is Quitting LJ For DW

[poliphilo]

You do know why LJ is acting up, don't you? It's not because the goat's got it in for you. Really it's not. It's because LJ acts as a forum for political dissent in Russia and the bad guys are attacking it.

So it's not your fight. That's true. Or is it? "A quarrel in a far away place between people of whom we know nothing" Where have I heard that phrase before? Who said it?

Actually, I'm joshing you. I know perfectly well who said it and in what context. Someone who went on to become one of history's great jokes. If you don't know who it was, look it up. That's what your computer's for.

To educate yourself about the world. To make connections. 

I'm not saying the Russian dissidents need you to stand shoulder to shoulder with them but mightn't you feel a little better about yourself if you did?

And while they don't exactly need you (but would be grateful for your company) it could be you need them. They're fighting to defend the liberties you so very cavalierly take for granted. You reckon those liberties are safe in the country where you happen to hang your hat? In the USA? in Britain? I wouldn't be too sure. No government- no matter how supposedly liberal or libertarian-  ever did more than tolerate free speech. 

The enemies are free speech are everywhere.  And you're giving them encouragement. They'll be noticing the way you're behaving here and thinking how very, very soft you are.

Ripe for the taking.

I'm choosing my words very, very carefully- I don't want to cause unnecessary offence- but you may have gathered I'm actually more than a little disappointed in you. 

Because, sheesh, no-one's asking you to man the barricades or risk a term in the gulag or anything like that, just hoping you'll stick around in friendly solidarity and put up with there being days when you'll find it difficult to post. 

But, forgive me, I'm forgetting just how important your blogging is. God forbid the world should be denied regular briefings about your ever so important life. And your cat. Or was it a dog?  Damn, I've already forgotten 

I'll miss you..... 

Now fuck off. 

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think LJ will go under. The Russians will fight to keep it going. LJ has proved several times now that it has the resources to see off these attacks. DW is a much flimsier craft. If it were ever to draw anybody's anger I would expect it to go under at the first broadside.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I too suspect DW of being a much more fragile company than LJ, despite the recent problems. Admittedly, I do have an account there by way of a backup and also to follow a few people that I still like to read but who left LJ. But LJ is definitely my home and if/when it eventually goes under, I'm as likely to move elsewhere for my online friendships as to turn to DW as a permanent solution.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

LJ is a big international company. There have been a lot of copy-cat sites but must of them have gone under. I don't believe DW has the resources to fight the kind of battles LJ has had to fight.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

If DW stays small, it will escape the notice of the spammers and not be seen as a good platform for the political blogs, so will most likely avoid the DoS attacks. However, that leaves it open to other problems such as illness and change in life circumstances of the small team that run it. I seem to recall that the chap who started LJ just got fed up and wanted to do something else and thus sold it to a big company. Also, if DW stays small, it won't attract new blood and will gradually dwindle away. It's going to be quite a juggling act to maintain it at the optimum size.